Of pre-service teachers, 82 percent said collaborative tools such as blogs and wikis are important instructional tools in the classroom (Speak Up, 2009). Similarly, 67 percent of administrators said their ideal school of the future should include online collaborative tools. As more research is conducted and district administrators are presented with positive results, they are beginning to see that implementing collaborative Web 2.0 technologies could be the cornerstone of future learning strategies that engage our students.
Something great for both teacher and student
I knew changes needed to be made in my classroom. I saw my students losing interest in their studies. They were bored with assignments and with tackling the curriculum the routine way. They needed something more interactive and exciting to grab their attention. Thankfully, I was not the only one who noticed this change, and our district decided we needed to find a way to make learning more interactive and engaging, while improving the effectiveness of our teaching.
Many different learning tools were discussed, but our district decided on a student-centered learning network called journ(i)e. This solution allows students to blog, collaborate, and interact with other students on a safe and secure educational network. Most importantly, this tool has empowered my students to direct their learning experience while I, as the teacher, play a facilitative role.
The positive response to this new technology has been immediate. Students commented on the familiarity of the interface and were immediately more engaged in our classroom activities. They readily use journ(i)e, a student-centered mobile learning network from TH(i)NQ Ed, at home to collaborate on projects I assign, instead of putting them off and trying to finish in the minutes just prior to class.
Where they used to write essays with a pen and paper, students are now collaborating on topics and writing papers on their wikis. Students also blog about their activities, much like they do on social media platforms they are using at home. Additionally, they are collaborating on shared documents, such as group lab reports in the science classroom. They are learning in school but carry this learning behavior outside the boundaries of our classroom.
The students are more engaged, and the new tools make learning more concrete for them. Our teachers like the simplicity of the technology. The ability to present the curriculum in a new way is exciting for both teachers and students. Parents have some peace of mind, knowing their students are in a controlled environment. Students can showcase their work for parents in a way parents find valuable and insightful. Students are even able to keep up with their assignments through integration with various grade book programs.
Blended learning: Matching education with the times
With students, teachers, and district administrators all in agreement that there is a growing need for technology in classrooms, more districts are using blended learning to improve student engagement and achievement. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said: “Effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes.” Technology should not be a special event; it should be an integral part of each classroom. Every day should be technology day! The days of rolling out the television to show a video lecture are, hopefully, a thing of the past.
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